The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-02-04

guish, and the new posture as intolerable al
the first. His brain CALLED and twingcd az did
his body. To think was as acute pain m te
use his sinews Yct he could not help think
ing any more than he could help turning IN
bed, though to turn was torture.
Every organ OF thought was bruised and
sore. Tho fearful events OF tho day before
would continue to thrust themselves upon Ills
mind. To put them out required painful ef'
fort; to recall and comprehend them was even
worse. Rejecting upon them now, with un,
strung nerves, made them seem hundred
fold more terrible than when they were the
spontaneous offspring of hot blood. With the
reflection came tho thoughts that this was but
preludc-an introduction-to an infinitely
horrible sat,,rnalia Of violence and blood
through which hc was to be hurried until re
leased by his own destruction, This became
a nightmare that threatened 10 stagnntc the
blood in his veins. lie gasped, turned his back
to the wall with an effort that thrilled him
with pain, and opened his eyes.
Naught that he saw reminded him OF the
preceding day. Sunny peace and content
ment reigned. The door stood wide open,
and as it faced the south the monday sun
pushed in-clear to the opposite wall-a
broad band of mellow light, wildly telling OF
the glory he was shedding where roof nor
shade checked his genial glow. On the
smooth, hard, ashen floor, in the center of
this bright zone, sat a matronly cat, giving
with tongue and paw dainty finishing touches
to her morning toilet, and watching with
maternal pride kittenish game Of hide and
seek OH the front step. Through the open
doorway came the self-complacent cackliny
of hens, celebrating their latest additions to
their rests, and the exultant call OF cock to
his feathered harem to come, admire and par
take of some especially fat worm which he
had lust unearthed. Farther away speckled
Guinea chickens were clamoring their salts.
faction at the improvement in the weather.
Still farther, gentle tinklings limited of peace
fully browsing sheep.
Inside the house punches of sweet smelling
medicinal herbs, hanging against the wall to
dry, made the air heavy with their odors.
Aunt Debby was at work near the bright
zone of sun rays, spinning yarn with "big
wheel" She held in one hand long, slender
roll of carded wool and in the other short
stick, with which she turned the wheel. Set
ting it to whrling with a long sweep of the
stick against spoke she would walk back
ward while the roll was twisted out into a
long, thin thread, and then walk forward Us
the yarn was wound upon the spindle. When
she walked backward the spindle hummed
sharply; when she came forward it droned.
There was a stately rhythm in both, to
which her footsteps and graceful sway Of
body kept time, and all blended harmoniously
with the camp meeting melody she was softly
singing:
Jesus. my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Naked, poor despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition
All I've sought, or hoped, or known;
Yet how rich is my condition
God and Heaven still my own.
A world of memories of joyous past, UNI
hecked by single one of the miseries of the
crowded in upon Harry on the wings
of this well remembered tune. 1t was Il
favorite hymn at the Methodist church in
Sardis. and the last time he had heard it was
when he had accompanied Rachel to the
church to attend services conducted by
noted evangelist
All, Rachel what of her!
He had not thought of her since a swift
recollection Of her words at the parting scene
on the piazza had come to spur up his falter-
ing resolution, as the regiment advanced up
the side of Wildcat. Now one bitter thought
of how useless all that he had gone through
with the day before was to rehabilitate him
self in her good opinion was speedily chased
from his mind by the still bitterer onepf the
contempt she must feel for him, did she but
know of his present abject prostration.
After all. might not the occurrences of yes
terday be but the memories of a nightmare?
They seemed too unreal for probability. Per-
haps he YVES just recovering consciousness
after the delirium of fever.
The walnut sticks in the fireplace popped as
sharply as pistols, and he trembled from head
to foot.
"Heavens, I'm a bigger coward than ever"
be said bitterly, and turning himself pain
fully i'll bed, he fixed his eyes upon the wall.
II was led to believe" he continued, shat
after I had once been under fire, would
cease to dread it. Now, it seems to me more
dreadful than ever imagined it to be-"
Aunt Debby's wheel hummed and droned
still louder, but her pleasant tones rode on
the cadences like an Eolian harp in rising
wind:
Nan may trouble and distress me,
IT will but drive me to Thy breast:
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
o, tits not in grief to harm me,
While Thy love is left to me.
0, twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.
He wondered weakly why there were no
in this land and age to serve as
harbors of refuge for those who shrank from
the fearfulness of war.
He turned over again YEARLY, and Aunt
Debby, looking toward him, encountered his
wide open eyes.
oyer awake, air yea" she said kindly.
"Hope didn't disturb you. wuz tryin' ter
make ez little noise ez possible"
"No, you didn't rouse me. It's hard for me
to sleep in daylight, even when fatigued, as
am."
"Ef We want ter git up now" she said, stop
ping the wheel by pressing stick against
spoke and laying the "roll" in her hand upon
the wheel head, "I'll hev some breakfast fur
ye in jiffy. We kin rise an dress while
run down ter the spring arter fresh bucket
o. water"
She covered her head with "slat sun bon
net" which she took from peg in the wall,
lifted a cedar WATERFALL from shelf sup
ported by other long pegs, poured its con-
tents into large cast-iron teakettle swinging
over the fire, and whisked out of the door.
Presently the notes of her hymn mingled in
plaintive harmony with the sparkling but
no sweeter song of robin redbreast, twit-